Improvement in the manner of rendering chairs, stools, settees



IINrTEn STATES PATENT OFFICE "WILLIAM HARRAL SHECUT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANNER 0F RENDERING CHAIRS, STOOLS, SETTEES, dc., BUOYAN'T, T0 BE USED AS LIFE-PRESERVERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 2,42, dated March 9, 1842.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, WILLIAM HARRAL SHE- CUT, of the city of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented a Buoyant Chair or Stool, being a new and useful apparatus to be used in cases of emergency as a life-preserver; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descripton of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l isa perspective View of the chair or stool. A and B represent two hollow cases, of tin, copper, or other metal, or wood. Fig. 2 represents the chair or stool when oatingin the water.

c c is asmall leather strap, used for the purpose of confining the cases under the seat of the chair, being attached to the seat of the chair by two small knobs on the opposite sides, or the straps may be dispensed with entirely by means of two springs, formed as represented in section at Fig. 4, and e, Fig. 2, to be soldered on the lower part of each case, so as to press against the round of the chair suinciently to keep the cases under the seat when out of the water.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction.

I construct my chair or stool in any of the known forms, being such as are generally used on board steamboats and other vessels. I then construct two cylinders or cases of stout tin or other metal, or wood, perfectly air and water tight. A perspective view of the shape of the cases is shown at A B, Fig. l, and represents, also, the appearance of the chair on ordinary occasions. The cases are attached to the seat of the chair by strong hinges and screws, as shown at Fig. 3.

o c represent a strap of leather or other exible material, which is attached to the seat of the chair by two small knobs. (Shown at d d on Fig. l.) This principle may be applied to settees or tables used on board vessels, the air-cases being then securely fastened to the under side of the settee or table and to remain Stationary.

The operation of this apparatus is such that on loosening the strap c the cases A and B swing outward on the hinges, and when thrown in to the water present the appearance as shown at A B, Fig. 2.

Persons using this chair will place them* selves on the seat between the cases, as in the attitude or position assumed in swimming, and it will buoy them up until help can arrive, or they may propel themselves to shore, both hands and feet being at perfect liberty. The buoys, being placed above the person or Weight to be sustained, Will prevent all danger of the chair oversetting.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The application to chairs, stools, settees, or tables used on board of vessels of cylinders or cases containing air or gas, hermetically sealed, so as to be perfectly air and water tight, as described in the foregoing specication, combined with the hinges and strap or spring e e, all as herein set forth.

VILLIAM HARRAL SI-IECUT.

Witnesses:

JAS. PEARsoN, F. M. OFFERMAN. 

